How to Connect an iPad to iTunes

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This wikiHow teaches you how to sync an iPad with iTunes on a Windows or macOS computer. After connecting the iPad to the computer with a USB cable, you’ll also have the option to set up wireless syncing, eliminating the need for cables in the future.

Open iTunes on your PC or Mac. If you’re using Windows, you’ll find iTunes in the Start menu (sometimes in a folder called All Apps). If you’re using macOS, click the music note icon in the Dock that runs along the bottom of the screen.

Connect the iPad to the computer using a USB cable. Use the cable that came with your iPad or a compatible replacement. After a few moments, a button that looks like an iPhone or iPad will appear near the top-left corner of iTunes (to the right of the drop-down menu).[1]

Click Apply after making changes. If you changed your syncing preferences, click this button at the bottom-right corner of iTunes to sync. If you didn’t make changes, click Sync (also at the bottom-right corner) instead.

Connect your iPad to the same Wi-Fi network as the computer running iTunes. As long as your iPad and the computer with iTunes are connected to the same wireless network, you can use that network to sync content between devices without a USB cable. Here’s how to connect your iPad to a Wi-Fi network:

Open iTunes on your PC or Mac. If you’re using Windows, you’ll find iTunes in the Start menu (sometimes in a folder called All Apps). If you’re using macOS, click the music note icon in the Dock that runs along the bottom of the screen.

Connect the iPad to the computer using a USB cable. Use the cable that came with your iPad or a compatible replacement. After a few moments, a button that looks like an iPhone or iPad will appear near the top-left corner of iTunes (to the right of the drop-down menu).[4]

Make sure you have the recent version of iTunes installed. Then just try to reconnect your iPad and make sure that you "trust" the computer. If the problem persists, try going to Apple and see if they have any troubleshooting options. If the problem still persists, take it to an Apple store, and they can do a scan of the device for you at no cost.

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This article was co-authored by our trained team of editors and researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness. Together, they cited information from 5 references. wikiHow's Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article meets our high standards.

To connect an iPad to iTunes, open the iTunes program on your PC or Mac, then connect the iPad to the computer using a USB cable. Click the iPad button when it appears. When you see the prompt, choose the type of content you want to sync, such as music, and click “Sync.” After you’ve finished viewing or moving your files, click the blue “Done” button, then click “Eject” before you disconnect your iPad from the computer.